2023 Projects:
- Climate Distress Services for Young People
GTEC, along with the Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance (MHCCA/SFU), and youth and young adults aged 16-24, are developing climate distress services to be delivered by GTEC at the False Creek Climate Response Centre and in digitally-based formats. The initial work of this partnership is supported by the Michael Smith Health Research Foundation.
- False Creek Climate Response Centre
The first of its kind in Canada, the False Creek Climate Response Centre is a scalable, multi-faceted resource serving the people of the False Creek area and the surrounding City of Vancouver community. The Centre is being developed in partnership with False Creek Friends Society. GTEC is thankful to the Trottier Foundation for its support in developing this centre.

Maude Barlow: Leader in the Struggle for Water as a Human Right
The GTEC Reader is published on this website and emailed to subscribers as a free access publication providing the community with a forum for information, dialogue and reflections about environmental issues.
> See Volume 4, Issue 1 — Articles this issue:
- Maude Barlow: Leader in the Struggle for Water as a Human Right
- Islands and Water: Granville Island and Heracleion
- A Greener Approach To Collect And Clean Rainwater In Vancouver
- Physician, Educator, Environmental Defender
- The Geopolitics of Water
- River Journey Conjuring Spirit
- Climate Refugees – Book Review
- A Missing Lake and a Web of Contested Relations
- Giving It All We Got
GTEC is…
A Model for Sustainable Urban Living and Healthy Community
in the Rapidly Changing World of the 21st Century
VISION: The Green Technology Education Centre is at the forefront of solutions to the social and environmental challenges of our time.
MISSION: GTEC informs, supports and activates communities in responding to the climate crisis.
GTEC’S OBJECTIVES ARE:
ONE Design, develop and present public education materials about green technology.
TWO Promote the adoption of green technologies through community education.
THREECollaborate with organizations that have similar objectives such as community agencies, universities and government departments.
Latest Greatest GTEC Blogs
A Just Transition to Clean Energy
Necessary Adjustments? Compiled by Ross Thrasher Just Transition Sometimes the transition to clean energy runs into opposition from unexpected sources. The January 2023 issue of Harper’s Magazine contains an article by Hillary Angelo entitled “Boomtown: a solar land...
World Poetry Day – Water Poems
World Poetry Day, March 21, is a celebration of our “most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expression and identity. . . poetry speaks to our common humanity and our shared values, transforming the simplest of poems into a powerful catalyst for dialogue and...
The Dawn of Everything
What Graeber & Wengrow Have to Say to Salmon Nation as it Faces Responding to the Climate Crisis. Published in 2021, during the throes of the pandemic, Graeber and Wengrow’s The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity usurps our widely accepted notions about the...
Coro Strandberg Celebrates February as the Month of Love
GTEC is pleased to share the brilliant work of Coro Strandberg. Coro is leading the way in developing social purpose business and board governance and defining the role universities can play in shifting to a regenerative society. This is the February newsletter from...
MHCCA Climate Change Impact Survey
Let’s work together to understand the impacts of climate change! About the Climate Distress Survey Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Mental Health and Climate Change Alliance is reaching out to Canadians to learn more about the impacts of climate change. The information...
On the Frontline of the Climate Crisis
This is the text of GTEC Executive Director, Arden Henley’s presentation to the 2nd Annual Summit on Mental Health and Climate Change, February 3, 2023 Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts with you today. To situate myself very briefly, my ancestors are...
Co-Design of Climate Distress Services
Communities across Canada are already beginning to face a multitude of challenges related to the climate crisis. Many governments and organizations are making significant strides towards developing climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. However, building social...
Notes from the Frontline of the Climate Crisis
Notes from the Frontline of the Climate Crisis is the title of GTEC Executive Director, Arden Henley’s presentation to the Summit on Mental Health and Climate Change this Friday, February 3 at 11:15 am. Read more about the conference here. One of the major issues...
A Collection of Quotes on Environmental Matters
Compiled by Ross Thrasher The recent publications sampled below are well worth reading in full. Most of them are available at your local public library. John Gray, “The dangerous conceits of the green revolution”, The New Statesman (18-24 November 2022), pp. 28-31. A...
The GTEC Board of Directors
Arden Henley
Executive Director
Arden Henley is the former Vice President of CityU Canada and a founder of the CityU counselling programs. Previously he was the Director of White Rock Family Therapy Institute, the Director of Clinical Services at Peace Arch Community Services, and the Executive Director of the South Okanagan Children’s Services Society. He is a former Advisor to the Provincial Counsellor Education Task Force and the former Chair of the Board of the BC College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Practitioners. Dr. Henley has a B.A. from McMaster University, an M.A. from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, U.S.A and a Doctorate in Education from Simon Fraser University.
Terry Stone
DIRECTOR
An enthusiastic professional with more than 20 years experience in Business ownership, Management and Marketing, Terry is passionate about respecting our planet and people. An avid wilderness junkie, he loves the saying “leave only footprints and take only pictures”. He has enjoyed working in fitness & rehabilitation, life safety, green-building, alternative energy, and sustainability. Still searching for the way he can make a large impact, he offers GTEC — critical thinking, problem-solving and strategic planning.
Norman Sam
CHAIR
Formally educated at BCIT and UBC in Management and Finance, Norman’s careers and businesses continue to span the spectrum from corporate wellness to real estate development and technology start-up in the climate tech sector. Complementing these activities, Norman has also volunteered extensively with various non-profit and community service organizations. The common narrative among this diverse range of activities is a passion and desire to make his community and the world a better place.
Todd McGowan
SECRETARY
Todd McGowan is an education leader, outdoor adventurer and sustainability specialist. He lived and worked in Ethiopia helping design and implement English language teacher trainings in the Southern Region of the country. He was the Education Director and part of the design team for a 430-acre sustainable community development in Sechelt, BC that combined lifelong learning (including an international high school), senior living, agriculture, affordable housing, an eco-adventure park, an artisan community and a waterfront village along with vast greenspace and trail networks. The development aspired to be the most sustainable community in North America and support the 7 dimensions of wellness: Social, Emotional, Environmental, Spiritual, Physical, Occupational and Intellectual.
Neal Mutadi
DIRECTOR (ON LEAVE)
Dr. Neal Mutadi is the president of NCEA, an organization dedicated to quality education. He has worked in national & international assignments. He was an instructor at UBC & director of San Diego State & City University leadership programs in Canada. He also served as principal, director of education & deputy superintendent of schools in British Columbia. Neal has a doctorate from Brigham Young University & has published articles in leading American & Canadian educational magazines. He has been actively involved in community groups, the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International & the Heart & Stroke Foundation. He has enjoyed the beauty of our planet through world travel. He is committed to collaborating with individuals & groups who are passionate about protecting our planet.
Mary Charleson
DIRECTOR
Mary Charleson is a Marketing Speaker, Educator, and Strategist. She is the author of fiveminutemarketing.com Blog and weekly newsletter, featuring marketing tips for the time starved entrepreneur. Mary has two books: “Word of Mouth Mouse & Mobile” (2013) and “Five-Minute Marketing” (2010). She is a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers and the Global Speakers Federation. Mary delivers keynotes and presentations for private companies, associations, and conferences.
Gerry Zipursky
DIRECTOR
Gerry’s extensive career in Community Development and Community Leadership includes many years in the Neighborhood House movement in Vancouver working at Gordon Neighborhood House, Mount Pleasant Neighborhood House, as well as being the founding Executive Director of South Vancouver Neighborhood House. He was the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver for 22 years. Gerry has also been a consultant to a wide range of community organizations and Boards.
Mary Kean
DIRECTOR
Mary Kean is a retired couple and family therapist, published poet and writer, and editor of The GTEC Reader. She has been on the Board of GTEC since its inception and is totally dedicated currently to stopping and even reversing the Climate Crisis for the benefit of future generations.
Alisa Kaletsky
DIRECTOR
Alisa is a lawyer. Prior to practicing law she worked in research and spent time working and studying in Israel. She is passionate about animal rights and welfare and shifting our consumption away from animals to reduce the significant impact of animal agriculture on greenhouse gas emissions.
Linda Thyer
VICE-CHAIR
Linda practises family and sport medicine on traditional Coast Salish territories with a focus on youth over the past 20 years. She is a founding member of Doctors for Planetary Health – West Coast and is an active member of various medical, environmental and community organizations. She is grateful for the many nourishing and healing gifts of Mother Earth and works toward restoring health and peace for all.
Kim McLeod
TREASURER
Kim McLeod graduated from UBC with a degree in Physical Education. She worked in corporate health and wellness and then transitioned into high tech as a project manager/producer to develop a virtual personal trainer application. Passionate about all areas of healthy living she turned her focus to the built environment and completed a two-year program from Rosenheim Germany in building biology learning about sustainable healthy building design. With her expertise in research, sourcing, planning, and driving project execution, she applies building biology principles to both residential and commercial projects. A strong appreciation for nature, she thrives on trail runs, hikes, and skate skiing with family and friends.
Steve Conway
DIRECTOR
Dr. Steve Conway is the Mental Health and Wellness Director with the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC and is the former Vice President of City University in Canada. Steve has over 30 years experience providing mental health services and leadership in a wide range of settings with diverse populations and clinical issues. Steve holds a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) and an MBA with a focus on leadership and teams. Steve is a Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor and has coach training in an ICF accredited program. For the previous 12 years, in addition to being a senior level leader, Steve has been a counselling therapist, leadership coach and consultant, workshop facilitator focusing on workplace mental health and leadership issues and a leadership fit to position assessment specialist.
Sapna Dayal
DIRECTOR
Sapna is a CPA, CA with over 25 years experience. A builder at heart, she’s currently part of the founding group at Brass Token, an independent video game development studio. From 2007 – 2015, she served as Executive Director of imagine1day, a non-profit which provides access to quality education for children throughout Ethiopia. Sapna also dedicated 15 years to a career in public accounting with KPMG LLP, and more recently with Smythe CPA, working across practice areas including assurance, corporate finance and international taxation, in Canada and Brazil. Sapna is overjoyed to add “mama” to her bio, having been blessed with the birth of her daughter in 2020.
c/o Kitsilano Neighbourhood House
2305 West 7th Ave
Vancouver, BC V6K 1Y4
Canada
info@gteccanada.ca